Alberta Legal Land Description Converter
Convert Alberta legal land descriptions to GPS coordinates instantly. Free tool for LSD, Quarter Section, and Section conversions.
How Alberta Legal Land Descriptions Work
Alberta uses the Dominion Land Survey (DLS) system. Land is divided into Townships (6 miles x 6 miles), Sections (1 mile x 1 mile), Quarter Sections (0.5 mile x 0.5 mile), and Legal Subdivisions (LSDs).
DLS Hierarchy
- Township: 6 x 6 mile square (36 sections)
- Section: 1 x 1 mile square (640 acres)
- Quarter Section: 160 acres (NE, NW, SE, SW)
- LSD: 40 acres (Legal Subdivision 1-16)
Alberta LLD Format Examples
| Format | Example | Legal Land Description | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Township | 28-3-W5 | Township 28, Range 3, West of 5th Meridian | -114.353377, 51.40193 |
| Section | 5-28-3-W5 | Section 5, Township 28, Range 3, West of 5th Meridian | -114.388333, 51.365725 |
| Quarter Section | SE-5-28-3-W5 | Quarter Section SE, Section 5, Township 28, Range 3, West of 5th Meridian | -114.382549, 51.362118 |
| LSD | 1-5-28-3-W5 | LSD 1, Section 5, Township 28, Range 3, West of 5th Meridian | -114.379661, 51.360311 |
Common Alberta Meridians
W4 (4th Meridian)
Eastern Alberta: Lloydminster, Cold Lake, Medicine Hat
W5 (5th Meridian)
Central Alberta: Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer (most common)
W6 (6th Meridian)
Western Alberta: Jasper, Grande Prairie, Banff area
Alberta Legal Land Description FAQ
- How do I find a legal land description in Alberta?
- Use Township Canada's search tool to enter an address, coordinates, or location name. The tool will return the legal land description for that location. You can also search by entering the LSD, quarter section, or section format.
- What is the difference between W4, W5, and W6 in Alberta?
- These refer to the 4th, 5th, and 6th Meridians. They divide Alberta into vertical strips, with W5 being the most common (includes Calgary and Edmonton). W4 covers eastern Alberta, and W6 covers western Alberta near the Rocky Mountains.
- Can I convert multiple Alberta LSDs at once?
- Yes! Use our batch conversion tool to convert thousands of Alberta legal land descriptions to GPS coordinates at once.
- What does LSD mean in Alberta land descriptions?
- LSD stands for Legal Subdivision. It's the smallest unit in the DLS system, representing approximately 40 acres. Each section contains 16 LSDs, numbered 1-16.
- How accurate is the Alberta LSD converter?
- Township Canada's converter provides coordinates accurate to the center of the specified land parcel. Corner coordinates (NW, NE, SW, SE) are included when you download your results. For programmatic access to polygon boundaries, check our API.
- Can I get corner coordinates (NW, NE, SW, SE) for LSDs or Quarter Sections?
- Yes! While the search results display center coordinates, all four corner coordinates (NW, NE, SW, SE) are included when you download your results. Export formats like CSV, Shapefile, KML, GeoJSON, and DXF all contain the complete boundary coordinates for each legal land block.
- Is the Alberta legal land converter free?
- Yes! Township Canada offers 10 free conversions per month. For unlimited conversions, batch processing, and data export, check our pricing plans.
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